A very full load of nominees for this year's Equity Jeff Awards

Apparently confronted by a plethora of riches in the past season of Chicago theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee offered up not the traditional four or five nominees one finds at the Tony Awards, for instance, but a bevy of nominees for its annual awards. In the case of best Equity production in Chicago last year, the committee came up a whopping 18 nominees, divided between "large" and "midsized" companies. And that doesn't even include the musicals.

In the category of best director of a play, there are 10 nominees, including Robert Falls, the director of "The Iceman Cometh" and Rachel Rockwell, the only twice-nominated director, for "The Sound of Music" and "Sweeney Todd," both at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.

The long list of nominated actors did not include Nathan Lane, whose courageous work in "Iceman" was overlooked, as indeed was every other member of that much-praised cast, save Brian Dennehy. Although hardly dominant, "Iceman" did score nominations for best production and best ensemble. Other shows that did well this year include "Follies" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (although there was no nomination for Susan Moniz, its star), "Invisible Man" at Court Theatre, and the House Theatre's "Death and Harry Houdini," which, surprisingly, scored more nominations than any other single production.

The winners of this year's Jeffs — and ties are possible — will be handed out on Oct. 15 at the Drury Lane Theatre. The volunteer committee judged 118 productions from 55 different Equity theaters in and around Chicago.

ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A REVUE Edgar Blackmon – "Who Do We Think We Are?" – The Second City McKinley Carter – "Putting it Together" – Porchlight Theatre Company Mike Kosinski – "We're All in This Room Together" – The Second City e.t.c. Adam Pelty – "Putting it Together" – Porchlight Theatre Company